When is enough enough ?

[fenboy]

is the dog the same with a collar on?

Sorry what do you mean ? as in just a collar or with a long cord attached for example ?

[Andrew]

The cord was possibly going to be the next suggestion depending on the dogs actions with a collar on.

[fenboy]

The dog has always worn a collar , it will only be removed once he is hopefully working .
I tried long cords for a good while and he was almost always well behaved on one , but almost immediately it was removed he would play up.

[Nonehpets]

The dog has always worn a collar , it will only be removed once he is hopefully working .
I tried long cords for a good while and he was almost always well behaved on one , but almost immediately it was removed he would play up.

... which evidences the antibiotic withdrawal analogy - the wanted behaviour was not ingrained sufficiently so as soon as the dog knows the constraint is removed he reverts to the unwanted behaviours and next time it is harder to fix.

So you have a plan - you know how you are going to reward what you want and you know how you are going to 'not reward' the unwanted behaviours. Now you have to keep doing it, stepping up the distractions very slowly and ready to take a back step if needs be (stepping back is not failure - it is recognising that a test shows you did not succeed yet).

Be clear in your mind at all times that the problem is resolvable and you will be great hunting partners ... just as soon as you are both ready. And then have fun learning with Milo.

Cathy

[Naj]

I agree, if you're going to use a training line then be prepared to keep it on for a year, if necessary, if that's what it takes to fix the problem. It should be light & not necessarily very long because you're only needing it to surreptitiously pick up so you can regain control if things go wrong. I often use baler twine but you can get thin braided line from chandlers/climbing stores. As the retrieve improves the dog will not notice the line because it is always there, & won't make any connection with having it on because you will no longer be needing to use it. Once you have a reliable retrieve you can keep cutting a few yards off the line until nothing is left of it.

So now you've decided on a plan of action, get outside & follow it through. Stick at it but be inventive & adapt to suit. You'll never train a dog while sitting at your keyboard.

Naj

[WGD]

If I needed to read 7 pages on a forum to get a lab retrieving to hand, sorry but I would be starting again.

[trekmoor]

I can't disagree with that !

Wullie

[Hepe]

If I needed to read 7 pages on a forum to get a lab retrieving to hand, sorry but I would be starting again.

Not a nice comment!

Helene

[Hepe]

I can't disagree with that !

Wullie

Which doesn't mean you should have put that in writing.

Helene

[trekmoor]

Why not ? This is a forum about gundogs and agreeing or disagreeing is part of what forums are all about.

If I had a work bred lab...or any lab that I could not get to retrieve to hand after months of training , I'd take a hard look at my own training methods and a hard look at the dog too. In either case the best solution might be to find the dog a pet home.

Wullie